“: I was saying each week is different. Each day is different. Each time I’m here to answer your questions, I’m telling you the truth. That is what I feel. Each time I’m in front of you, I’m telling you the truth.

To start with, in the tournament I was not playing that well. I was saying at the time, I have to change the situation, I have to have a better attitude, otherwise I could walk back home is what I said.

But, fortunately, things have changed for me, and I was very present on the crucial points. It was positive for me, and I’m going to celebrate, because reaching the finals of Roland Garros is not something easy.

Well, you know, this is something that people would dream of, reaching the finals. Nobody’s ever certain that they can reach the finals. Today this is a dream come reality to me. I’m really happy to be playing the finals for one of the most important tournaments in the world on clay, so I have all the reasons to be satisfied.

As you know I’ve had to overcome very difficult situations in the past one‑and‑a‑half weeks. I have reached the finals, that’s true, and I’m very happy.

I had to forget about this type of anxiety or the fears I had something like two weeks ago, and now I have gained more confidence. Well, during the first rounds, the first round, the second round, I was not feeling that confident.

I thought I shouldn’t lose any of these matches; otherwise my ranking is going to be impacted. But now I have more confidence. I think I fought for all the important points. I have no fears concerning my ranking any longer.

It’s not going to go down, so to me this is a splendid year. This is what counts. This is what I’ll take away with me, what I remember, a very good year.

I’m really very satisfied. Maybe I have had a few incidents, but apart from this I’m really, really happy. The rest does not really matter. I remember the positive sides.”

ROGER FEDERER: Yeah. I would think so, yeah. I hope it was, because I thought it was played at a very high level for a very long time.

I can only talk about myself, but I thought I did really well today. It was a tough start, really, where I was able to break. There was break backs, because that’s kind of how we play against each other. It’s so intense and he’s such a good return player that I always know he’s got something in his racquet to really break me, as well.

I really wanted to make it as physical as possible, which I was able to make it happen. I think the end of the first and beginning of the second set was key to, you know, the outcome almost in the fourth set.

So I was really happy the way I played. I thought at the end it was also quite mental, you know, both of us know that whoever is going to win the set, either it’s over or we have to come back tomorrow, which makes it more tricky.

So for this reason obviously I’m somewhat relieved that I don’t have to come back tomorrow, even that would have been no problem. I thought it was a great match from both sides, really.

I said it earlier, I wasn’t here to spoil the party. I mean, just trying to put in a good match and trying to get to the French Open finals, which I’m now obviously happy I’m able to.

But almost feels somewhat like I’ve won the tournament, which is not the case, you know. Silverware is still out there to be won, and I’m looking forward to the match with Rafa, which I guess is my true rival for the last ‑‑ all those years, you know, since he became world No. 1.”

Se serve de consolo para Djokovic, que jogava para alcançar o posto de número um do mundo e quebrar o recorde de vitórias seguidas, Federer tinha o que dizer para ele: . I told him at the net as well. I said I think his record speaks for itself, how great he’s played already this season, and it’s not even over yet. He can still achieve so much more this year.

And, yeah, I thought we played some great tennis. The way the crowd got into it, as well, towards the end of the match, I mean, the way they back me here in Paris is just an amazing feeling. So obviously I know I’m very privileged to live this in my career.

Alguns números da final:

ATP rankings update

Rafael Nadal can retain his world No. 1 ranking if he wins the title here. If Nadal fails to win the title, Novak Djokovic will overtake him as No. 1 when the ATP World Tour Rankings are released on Monday 6 June.

Tracking the rivalry…

Today marks the 19th Federer v Nadal tournament final, moving them into 2nd place for the most meetings in a final in the Open Era. Nadal has a 45-17 win-loss record in finals, Federer 67-29.

Nadal and Federer go head-to-head for the 8th time in a Grand Slam final, extending their record for the most meetings between 2 players in a Grand Slam final.

Grand Slam Final match-ups (all-time)

Number

Tournaments

Roger Federer v Rafael Nadal

8

Roland Garros 2006-08 and 2011, Wimbledon 2006-08,
Australian Open 2009

Bill Tilden v William Johnston

6

US Champs 1919-20, 1922-25

Jean Borotra v Rene Lacoste

5

Wimbledon 1924-25, Roland Garros 1925, 1929, US Champs 1926

Rod Laver v Roy Emerson

5

Australian Champs 1961-62, Roland Garros 1962, US Champs 1961-62

Roy Emerson v Fred Stolle

5

Australian Champs 1964-65, Wimbledon 1964-65, US Champs 1964

Ivan Lendl v Mats Wilander

5

Australian Open 1983, Roland Garros 1985, 1987, US Open 1987-88

Andre Agassi v Pete Sampras

5

Australian Open 1995, Wimbledon 1999, US Open 1990, 1995, 2002

2011 leaders

Nadal has the most wins in the men’s game this year, having overtaken Novak Djokovic at the top of the leader board after his semifinal victory here. Federer is in 3rd place after ending Djokovic’s 41-match winning streak in 2011.

Most wins in 2011

Rafael Nadal 42-6

Novak Djokovic 41-1

Roger Federer34-7

Robin Soderling 32-8

Nicolas Almagro 31-10

David Ferrer 31-10

Nadal going for 6

Nadal is bidding to become just the second man in history to win 6 titles here, after Bjorn Borg who won 6 times between 1974 and 1981. Borg won his 6th title on his 8th appearance at Roland Garros, while Nadal is hoping to win his 6th title on his 7th appearance here.

Roland Garros title leaders

Bjorn Borg 6 (1974-75, 1978-81)

Rafael Nadal 5 (2005-08, 2010)

Henri Cochet 4 (1926, 1928, 1930, 1932)

Head-to-head: Nadal leads 16-8

2004 AMS Miami Hard (O) R32 Nadal 63 63

2005 AMS Miami Hard (O) FR Federer 26 67(4) 76(5) 63 61

2005 Roland Garros Clay (O) SF Nadal 63 46 64 63

2006 Dubai Hard (O) FR Nadal 26 64 64

2006 AMS Monte Carlo Clay(O) FR Nadal 62 67(2) 63 76(5)

2006 AMS Rome Clay (O) FR Nadal 67(0) 76(5) 64 26 76(5)

2006 Roland Garros Clay (O) FR Nadal 16 61 64 76(4)

2006 Wimbledon Grass (O) FR Federer 60 76(5) 67(2) 63

2006 Tennis Masters Cup Hard (I) SF Federer 64 75

2007 AMS Monte Carlo Clay (O) FR Nadal 64 64

2007 AMS Hamburg Clay (O) FR Federer 26 62 60

2007 Roland Garros Clay (O) FR Nadal 63 46 63 64

2007 Wimbledon Grass (O) FR Federer 76(7) 46 76(3) 26 62

2007 Tennis Masters Cup Hard (I) SF Federer 64 61

2008 AMS Monte Carlo Clay (O) FR Nadal 75 75

2008 AMS Hamburg Clay(O) FR Nadal 75 67(3) 63

2008 Roland Garros Clay (O) FR Nadal 61 63 60

2008 Wimbledon Grass (O) FR Nadal 64 64 67(5) 67(8) 97

2009 Australian Open Hard (O) FR Nadal 75 36 76(3) 36 62

2009 Madrid-1000 Clay (O) FR Federer 64 64

2010 Madrid-1000 Clay (O) FR Nadal 64 76(5)

2010 ATP World Tour Finals Hard (I) FR Federer 63 36 61

2011 Miami-1000 Hard (O) SF Nadal 63 62

2011 Madrid-1000 Clay (O) SF Nadal 57 61 63

This is the pair’s first meeting at a Grand Slam since the 2009 Australian Open final. The last time they met at Roland Garros was in 2008 when Nadal was responsible for Federer’s worst ever defeat in terms of games won in the most one-sided Roland Garros final since 1977. Federer also lost a set 60 for the 1st time since 1999. Federer has taken 3 sets off the Spaniard in 4 previous meetings here.

Nadal is one of just 2 active players who have had more than one career meeting with Federer to hold a winning head-to-head, the other is Andy Murray (8-6).